GEORGE:Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, said:On Saturday, 07 September, at 17h52, NSRI Wilderness was contacted by a member of public requesting urgent assistance for a non-fatal drowning incident at Victoria Bay with the casualty reported to be out of the water.The casualty, a 22-year old male, reportedly a University student, had been assisted by a former lifeguard who swam after him in a rip-current on the Eastern side of Victoria Bay.Volker Winterbach, 19, who was visiting from Still Bay with friends, had seen the casualty waving for help in the surf and responded to assist. He swam to the casualty who was about 100 meters from shore and close to the rocks. Volker, a former lifeguard at Hermanus, was able to use lifeguard skills to swim the casualty back to shore and initiate emergency first aid on the beach.A Western Cape Government Health EMS Rescue technician and EMS ambulance responded to the scene along with NSRI medics. The casualty was stabilised and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further treatment. He is currently in a stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further monitoring for non-fatal drowning symptoms.Sea Rescue commend Volker Winterbach for his quick response.On Sunday, 08 September, at 16h00, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a 32 year old male rescued from the surf by 2 off-duty lifeguards who happened to be at the beach.An NSRI medic responded together with WC Government Health EMS and on arrival on the scene, paramedics joined the 2 lifeguards who were conducting CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts, but sadly after all CPR efforts were exhausted the man has been declared deceased.His body has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.NSRI commend the 2 lifeguards, Jason Collins and Tijan van Wageningen for their efforts in trying to save the man’s life.
JEFFREYS BAY:Michael Van Den Bergh, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said:At 16h30, Sunday, 08 September, during NSRI Junior Academy routine lifeguard training, NSRI were alerted by a member of the public, reporting to have had visuals on a person swimming at Main Beach but sight of the person had been lost and he had feared for the swimmer's safety.An NSRI lifeguard using a Malibu Rescue Board initiated a search and our NSRI Waverunner launched to join in the search and our duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Project Group Rescuer. The SA Police Services, Private Care ambulance services and EC Government Health EMS responded.Our lifeguard located and recovered the casualty a (34 year old male) onto the Malibu rescue board in the surf and he was transferred onto our sea rescue craft. CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced.The patient was brought to shore where paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts but sadly, after all efforts were exhausted, the man has been declared deceased.His body has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.
OYSTER BAY:Marc May, NSRI St Francis Bay duty coxswain, said:At 06h04, Sunday, 08 September, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from a Chokka fishing boat that was heading towards St Francis Bay after lifting fishing gear and anchor from deep-sea fishing grounds reporting a 49 year old Port Alfred crewman on board suffering a medical emergency.NSRI Oyster Bay were placed on alert and Private Care ambulance services were activated to stand by at our NSRI base.Our sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched and we rendezvoused with the fishing boat just off-shore of Oyster Bay Point.The patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our NSRI station at Port St Francis and the patient has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by Private Care ambulance for further treatment.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE